Bayern Munich win as Juan Bernat's goal relegates Darmstadt

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:44 am

Bayern Munich celebrated their latest title success with a 1-0 victory over Darmstadt, who were relegated as a result.

The hosts, back at the Allianz Arena for the first time since clinching a fifth consecutive Bundesliga crown with a 6-0 rout at Wolfsburg last weekend, ran out narrow winners thanks to Juan Bernat's early goal.

Darmstadt were thrown a lifeline when they were awarded a late penalty but former Bayern midfielder Hamit Altintop saw his effort saved by veteran keeper Tom Starke.

The visitors had shown signs of life recently with three straight wins delaying their inevitable relegation, but despite another plucky display their fate was sealed with two matches remaining.

Their keeper, Michael Esser, had already made saves to keep out David Alaba's header and Rafinha's angled drive, but he was powerless to prevent Bernat opening the scoring in the 18th minute.

Bayern were pinging the ball around at will until it reached Franck Ribery down the left, and the French winger found Bernat in the area.

A. Beier/Getty Images for FC Bayern

The full-back showed exceptionally quick feet to evade Patrick Banggaard's challenge before lifting the ball past Esser with the outside of his left boot.

It was almost two when Thomas Muller met a cross from Rafinha with a diving header but Esser made a fine save.

Yet the visitors came close to drawing level on the half hour through Schalke loanee Felix Platte, whose shot was tipped around a post by Starke.

Robert Lewandowski was looking for a goal to celebrate the birth of his daughter Klara on Thursday, and to cement his place at the top of the goalscoring charts.

He got on the end of a cross from Bernat at the start of the second half but put his header too close to Esser, and then powered a Rafinha centre just wide.

Darmstadt had the ball in the net when Sven Schipplock fired under Starke just after the hour mark, but play had been halted for offside.

Lewandowski was frustrated by Esser again when he met Xabi Alonso's corner at the far post, the keeper spreading himself to touch the ball over his crossbar.

With five minutes to go Bernat tripped Schipplock inside the box to concede a penalty but Starke got down to his left to block Altintop's spot-kick.

Ribery almost put the seal on Bayern's victory at the death but his volley came back off the post.